ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Tuesday said India’s reaction to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project was clear proof that the Indian leadership was not happy to see Pakistan prosper.

An official statement issued from the ministry said New Delhi's reaction had exposed India's real face before the world as it finds its neighbour's progress and development “unacceptable”.

Coupled with a recent statement from the defence minister of India ─ who blatantly and unashamedly accepted responsibility for terrorism in Pakistan ─ the latest statement of intent by the Indian prime minister clearly showed India’s intentions not only to destabilise and hegemonise Pakistan, but to also use any means at its disposal to keep Pakistan backward and underdeveloped, said Nisar.

The interior minister said that the people of Pakistan, and its entire political and military leadership, are united to fight and defeat all themes of terrorism from wherever they may generate.

He said the country is united to carry forward the CPEC to its logical conclusion irrespective of all scheming and conspiring on part of its enemies.

Instead of raising unnecessary and uncalled for objections to this vital project, the Indian leadership should focus on ameliorating the plight of their own people and extricating them from generational traps of abject poverty, hunger, disease and socio-economic backwardness, Nisar concluded.

India's protest against human rights violations ironic: Aziz

The adviser to prime minister on foreign affairs and national security, Sartaj Aziz, said that India's request to Pakistan to create an environment free of violence is "ironic".

The adviser reacted to Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, calling India's request ironic in light of India's repeated violations of ceasefires at the Line of Control and the Working Boundary, human rights violations against Kashmiris in Indian-Occupied Kashmir, and subversive activities in Pakistan.

He dismissed the Indian concern over the slow pace of the Mumbai attack trials in Pakistan, saying that the cases were proceeding in court.

"Indian concern over slow progress calls into question their own reluctance to cooperate by not allowing the Judicial Commission’s visit to India until September 2013," said the adviser.

He said that Pakistan also had concerns regarding information related to the trial of the Indian military’s active service officers named by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) member ─ and mastermind of the Samjhota terrorist incident ─ Swami Aseemanand had not been shared.

Aziz recalled that Samjhota happened two years prior to the Mumbai attacks but the victims’ families were still awaiting justice.

Referring to the 'principle' of creating an atmosphere of harmony that is free of terror and violence, the minister said that peace is a multi-dimensional process.

The adviser referred to the recent articulation of Indian policy by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, which confirmed Pakistan’s apprehensions regarding Indian involvement in terrorism in Pakistan.

He said Pakistan is most affected by terrorism and had sacrificed thousands of lives in its counter-terrorism efforts. He said terrorism is a common challenge, and fighting this menace required collective efforts.

Speaking about a Pak-India dialogue, Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan has conveyed to India that it remains committed to dialogue, provided India is ready.

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

The adviser expressed surprise over the Indian EAM's remarks that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was "not acceptable".

"The mega project is all about regional connectivity and economic development and prosperity of the common people of the entire region. There is dichotomy in the Indian statements on their pronouncements on the importance of the regional connectivity for development and their negative comments about CPEC", Aziz said.

He said Pakistan maintains a policy of non-interference in other countries’ bilateral relations, and expects others to refrain from commenting on Pakistan’s bilateral relations with other countries as well.

Read more: Pakistan's acquisition of nuclear power smashed India's dreams: Sartaj Aziz

Kashmiri right to self-determination

He also spoke of the right of Kashmiris to self-determination, saying, "Pakistan believes in a sustained, comprehensive, and result-oriented dialogue.

"Pakistan also believes that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are important stakeholders in the final resolution of the Kashmir dispute since they have yet to exercise their right to self-determination as enshrined in numerous UN Resolutions," he said.